The sudden knock on my door sent a jolt of fear through my body, like a lightning bolt striking a tree. I froze, my heart racing with anticipation, as I wondered who could be visiting me at this hour. The possibilities swirled in my mind like a vortex, each one more terrifying than the last. What if it was Victor Martinez, escaped from prison and come to exact his revenge? Or maybe it was his men, sent to finish the job they had started? I thought about all the times I had crossed him, all the times I had thwarted his plans. I thought about the look in his eyes, the hatred and anger that burned there.
I looked around my small halfway house room, my eyes scanning the space for anything that could serve as a weapon. My gaze landed on a hammer, lying on the floor next to the bed. I picked it up, feeling its weight in my hand, trying to calm my racing thoughts. Who could be behind that door? I thought about all the people who might want to hurt me, all the people I had wronged in the past.
I approached the door cautiously, my senses on high alert, like a wild animal sensing danger. I peered through the peephole, trying to get a glimpse of who was on the other side. But the person was standing at an angle, their face obscured from view. I felt a surge of fear, my heart pounding in my chest like a drum. What if it was Victor? What if he had come to kill me?
I took a deep breath and opened the door, my heart racing with anticipation. And then I saw him, standing in the hallway, a look of concern etched on his face. It was Detective James.
"Hey, Jackson," he said, his voice low and even. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything. I just wanted to check in on you, make sure you're doing okay."
I felt a wave of relief wash over me, like a cool breeze on a hot summer day. It was just James, come to check in on me. I relaxed my grip on the hammer, feeling a little silly for overreacting.
"Hey, James," I said, trying to sound calm. "No, you're not interrupting anything. Come on in."
James stepped into the room, his eyes scanning the space like he was searching for something. "So, how are you doing?" he asked, his voice still low and even.
I shrugged, trying to play it cool. "I'm doing okay, I guess. Just trying to stay out of trouble."
James nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Good. That's good. I'm glad to hear that."
We stood there for a moment, the silence between us like a thick fog. And then James spoke up again.
"Listen, Jackson. I know you're planning on leaving town. But I want you to be careful, okay? There are still people out there who want to hurt you."
I nodded, feeling a shiver run down my spine. "I will, James. I'll be careful."
James nodded, his expression serious. "Good. I'll be keeping an eye on you, just in case."
And with that, he turned and left, leaving me feeling like I was walking on thin ice, waiting for the other shoe to drop. I knew I had to be careful, knew I had to watch my back. But I also knew I couldn't let fear control me. I had to keep moving forward, no matter what.
As I lay back down on my small bed, trying to shake off the lingering fear from the earlier knock on the door, I thought I had finally found some peace. But it was short-lived. My door burst open, kicked in with a loud crash, and I saw Liam standing there, his eyes blazing with anger, a gun clutched in his hand. The sound of the door splintering and the sudden invasion of my personal space made me jump, my heart racing with fear.
"Jackson, you traitor," Liam spat, his voice venomous, the words dripping with malice. "I know all about your little meeting with Detective James." He took a step closer to me, the gun pointed directly at my chest, his finger hovering over the trigger.
I sat up in bed, my heart racing, as Liam advanced towards me, his eyes burning with intensity. I could see the anger and betrayal etched on his face, and I knew I had to think fast to defuse the situation.
"Liam, what are you talking about?" I pleaded, trying to reason with him, my voice shaking slightly. I held up my hands in a defensive gesture, trying to placate him.
"Don't play dumb with me, Jackson," Liam sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. "I know you're trying to stab me in the back. You think you can just betray me and get away with it?" He took another step closer, the gun still pointed at me, his eyes blazing with anger.
"No, Liam, that's not true," I protested, trying to keep my voice steady. I knew I had to convince him that I wasn't betraying him, but it was hard to think straight with a gun pointed at me.
"Save it, Jackson," Liam spat. "I don't believe you. You're just trying to cover your tracks." He sneered at me, his expression twisted in disgust.
I knew I had to think fast, to convince Liam that I wasn't betraying him. I took a deep breath and tried to explain. "Liam, listen to me," I said, trying to keep my voice calm. "I swear on my son's life, I am not betraying you. Detective James is just a friend, and he was here to check in on me, that's all. He knows I'm leaving town and he wanted to wish me well."
Liam's expression didn't change, but I saw a flicker of doubt in his eyes. He lowered the gun slightly, his grip relaxing. "I don't know what to believe anymore, Jackson," he said finally. "You've been playing both sides for so long, I don't know what's real and what's not."
I knew I had to keep trying, to convince Liam that I was telling the truth. I took another deep breath and tried to reason with him. "Liam, please," I said, my voice cracking with desperation. "You have to believe me. I'm not trying to betray you. I just want to leave town and start fresh, that's all. I'm not trying to hurt you or anyone else."
Liam's eyes narrowed, his expression thoughtful. He seemed to be weighing his options, trying to decide what to do next. Finally, he spoke up. "I need to think about this," he said, his voice low and even. "I'll be back, Jackson. And next time, I won't be so easy on you."
And with that, he turned and left, leaving me shaken and wondering what would happen next. I knew I had to be careful, knew I had to watch my back. Liam was unpredictable, and I never knew what he would do next.
As we stood at the bus park, Mike and I were about to head inside the bus when he suddenly stopped, a bright smile spreading across his face. I wondered what could be causing his joy, and then I saw him - Liam, walking towards us with a purposeful stride. His car was parked a distance away, surrounded by his men, who eyed us with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion. They seemed to be sizing us up, their eyes lingering on me with a hint of hostility.
Mike's smile grew wider as Liam approached, and I could sense a deep affection between them. Liam had been a father figure to Mike for a long time, and it was clear that Mike held him in high esteem. As Liam reached us, Mike threw his arms around him in a warm embrace, holding him tightly for a moment before pulling back to gaze up at him with admiration.
"Hey, kiddo," Liam said, his voice softening as he hugged Mike back. "I heard you're leaving town. I had to come see you off." He ruffled Mike's hair, a fond smile on his face.
Mike nodded, his eyes shining with happiness. "Liam, I'm going to miss you, man. You've been like a dad to me." He looked up at Liam with a mixture of sadness and gratitude, his voice filled with emotion.
Liam's expression turned serious, his eyes locking onto mine. "I've got to talk to your old man for a minute, Mike. You go get on the bus, I'll catch up with you later." He nodded towards the bus, his eyes never leaving mine.
Mike nodded, his smile faltering slightly as he sensed the tension between us. "Okay, Liam. Take care, man." He turned and boarded the bus, leaving us alone.
As the bus door closed behind Mike, Liam turned to me, his expression unreadable. I braced myself for a confrontation, but instead, he surprised me with a nod of appreciation.
"Jackson, I wanted to thank you," he said, his voice low and sincere. "For everything you did for me in the past. I know we've had our differences, but I respect what you've done for me." He paused, his eyes searching mine. "You've been a thorn in my side, but you've also been a friend when it counted."
I was taken aback by his words, unsure of how to respond. "Liam, I...I didn't expect this," I stuttered, feeling a mix of emotions swirl inside me.
Liam's expression turned wry. "I know we haven't always seen eye to eye, but I'm trying to put the past behind us. You've done a lot for me, Jackson. I won't forget it." He paused, his eyes lingering on mine. "You've changed, Jackson. You're not the same man I met all those years ago."
I felt a surge of emotion at his words, a sense of closure washing over me. "Liam, thank you," I said, my voice filled with gratitude. "That means a lot coming from you." I paused, my eyes locking onto his. "I've changed, Liam. I've grown up. And I'm trying to make amends for my past mistakes."
Liam nodded, his expression softening. "I can see that, Jackson. And I respect it." He turned to leave, then looked back at me. "Take care of yourself, Jackson. And take care of Mike. He's a good kid."
With that, he turned and walked away, leaving me feeling stunned and grateful for the unexpected gesture. As I boarded the bus, I couldn't help but wonder what the future held for us, and whether we could truly put the past behind us.